Finding the Perfect Lens for My City
Like many photography enthusiasts, I started out with a “kit lens” (a lens that typically comes bundled with a camera body), Nikon 18-55mm (f/3.5-5.6) back in 2008. It didn’t take long, however, to realize its limitations — such as a lack of sharpness and insufficient telephoto reach. The Superzoom Experiment and a Lesson Learned So, …
Photographers and Social Media
While shooting cityscapes using a tripod in and out of Singapore, I’ve been approached by someone asking for my Instagram account on five or six occasions in recent years. My answer is always, “Sorry, I don’t do Instagram.” 😆 This shows how big Instagram is nowadays, as it’s assumed that photography enthusiasts have an Instagram …
Photo of the Month (March 2025)
Photographed on 30 March 2025 at Punggol Park (Singapore). EXIF: 32mm, f/9, 160 secs, ISO 100. First, a little life update. I suddenly developed a pinched nerve in early March and had trouble walking, especially when going down stairs, as sharp pain shot through my left leg. 😭 It took about three weeks to heal …
Tokyo Calling (2025)
Born and raised in a small city in the western part of Japan, I had a huge longing for Tokyo, as it was the center of everything happening in Japan. Back in my teenage years (late 1980s to early 1990s), there was no Internet, so places like Shibuya only existed on TV, in books, and …
Photo of the Month (February 2025)
Photographed on 20 February 2025 at Singapore CBD. EXIF: 22mm, f/11, 160 secs, ISO 100. “Photo of the Month” for February comes from my favorite place in Singapore’s CBD. We didn’t have many sunny evenings in February. To make matters worse, the surface of the water was choppy on most of those days (i.e., I …
Long Exposure Photography Essentials: A Quick Start Guide
If you came across this post by googling, you’ve probably heard about “long exposure photography” before but don’t know where to start. Then, stay with me for the next 3 minutes or so, as I’m sharing a few essentials to get you started with long exposure photography (plus a bonus free PDF eBook giveaway to …
Photo of the Month (January 2025)
Photographed on 29 January 2025 at Yebisu Garden Place Tower (Tokyo, Japan). EXIF: 35mm, f/5.6, 30 secs, ISO 100. Photographed on 25 January 2025 at Miyajima (Hiroshima, Japan). EXIF: 35mm, f/5.6, 257 secs, ISO 100. “Photo of the Month” for January also includes two photos, both taken during my much-anticipated solo trip to Japan, where …
Why We Shouldn’t View Our Hobby of Photography as a Competition
It’s probably undeniable that life is seen as a kind of race or competition, although I absolutely despise this idea. For kids, it’s about academic grading (which school they go to), athletic ability (who plays sports better), their looks (who is more popular among girls/boys), etc. As we grow older, we face the harsher reality …
Blue Hour Photography and Night Photography Are Not the Same
I often come across people mixing up “blue hour photography” with “night photography,” but to me, those are distinctively different. In a timeline, SUNSET comes first, followed by TWILIGHT, DUSK, and then NIGHT arrives. The time between sunset and dusk is known as BLUE HOUR, coloring the sky deep blue, especially towards the end of …
Photo of the Month (December 2024)
Photographed on 5 December 2024 at Des Voeux Road (Hong Kong). EXIF: 18mm, f/5.6, 0.4 sec, ISO 100. Photographed on 3 December 2024 at Lugard Road Lookout (Hong Kong). EXIF: 18mm, f/8, 13 secs, ISO 100. “Photo of the Month” for December features two photos, both from me and our son’s trip to Hong Kong. …
